Light conditioning device for use with electric lighting ceiling fixtures



Feb. 1, 1944. 2 340,710

J, TERR LIGHT CONDITIONING DEVICES FOR USE WITH ELECTRIC v LIGHTING CEILING FIXTURES Filed Dec. 16, 1940 INVENTOR. Terr ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11,1944

LI GHT' CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR USE 7 -WIT-H- ELECT-RIG LIGHTING CEILING FIX-.

TUBES a i Application December 16, 1940, Serial No. 370,288 1}. clai 31. e t -r2 This invention relates-to'improver-r'ients inlight conditioning devices, for use with electric lighting ceiling fixtures of the type generallyflsecured to a ceiling by a nipple and finial. Such fixtures are of the type generally known as oval pan or ceiling'plate, are formed in numerous shapes and styles and support two or more lamps either in vertical, horizontal or angular position.

The use of fixtures of the type above described is undesirable because the lamp are exposed and provide no protection from glare and additionally yield undesirable light distribution. Attempts have been made to remedy these undesirable features. sorted to being the attachment directly to the lamp of a cup provided with a suitable wire clip. Other means consist in providing a spider having a central ring and suspending same from the base of a lamp. 7

The means above described do not yield completely satisfactory results. Primarily, it is extremely hazardous to suspend any kind of equipment directly from a lamp, this practice being prohibited by law in many localities. Again, such individual cups or reflectors of necessity are relatively small and while shielding against objectionable glare, do not provide satisfactory light distribution.

In accordance with the foregoing, it is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an auxiliary fixture for use with ceiling fixtures of a type described which improves the light distribution of same.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the character described which may be applied safely and with a minimum of effort to a ceiling fixture.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device of the character described which lends itself to varied decorative treatment.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will b apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an electric lighting ceiling fixture showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line One of the common means re- 2 2 and looking in the direction indicatedby the arrows of Fig. 1.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional'vie'w taken on'line 33'of Figure 2 Fig. 4' is anenlarged plan view of adetail. "Referring tot-he drawing the numeral 10 indicates, generally, a conventional electric lighting ceiling fixture of the type commonly known as "oval pan or ceiling plate. All of such fixtures have a central aperture II in the body structure I2 and are secured to a ceiling by a finial or nut M which is screwed on a threaded nipple l5 passing through the aperture, it being understood that the nipple is anchored in the ceiling.

My invention is particularly adapted to the features of construction of the above described fixtures and comprises an oval shaped drum shade or reflector I6 having side walls I! translucent or opaque in character and formed of suitable material such as glass, plastics, parchment, metal or any other material commonly used in the art. The shade or reflector I6 is provided with a bottom l8 which may be translucent or opaque in character, depending upon whether direct or indirect lighting is desired. A plurality of notched or slotted lugs 20 are suitably fixed on the upper marginal edges of the wall I! of the shade or reflector It, or the frame thereof, and are adapted to engage sections of bead chains 2| which support the shade. A disc 23 havin a central aperture 24 and an annular marginal concave portion 25 is provided with a plurality of notches or open ended slots 21 which are adapted to receive the other ends of the bead chains 2|. The slots 21 are of a width sufiicient to accommodate the connecting links of the beads, but are of less width than the beads which comprise the chain. With this arrangement the distance of the shade or reflector [6 from the ceiling fixture I0 may be adjusted very readily, merely by slipping the chains 2| at any point into the slots 21, the chains being securely held in position by reason of the annular concave portion 25 of the disk 23. The

disk 23 by reason of its relatively large bearingsurface aids in securing the body structure of the fixture to the ceiling.

While the bead chain means for suspending the shade or reflector is preferred because of its ready adaptability to a variety of conditions,. it is to be understood that other means such as links or rods in spider arrangement and permanently secured to the disk may be used to suspend the shade or reflector.

The shade or reflector I6 and the disk 23 may be formed in any geometrical design to satisfy decorative or artistic requirements. It will be apparent that the shade and the disk may be 50 treated in the manufacture thereof that the decorative effect of the original fixture will be materially enhanced, and because of the universal adaptability of my device to a conventional ceiling fixture artistic treatments are given wide latitude.

In applying my device to a conventional ceilv-g-" ing lighting fixture Hi, the finial I4 which secures the same on the ceiling is removed, the disk 23 is then slipped over the nipple I15 and the finial l4 s screwed back thereon. The shade or reflector I6 is then suspended, as hereinbefore described, the distance of the shade l6 from the source" of light being very readily adjustable.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an auxiliary device for use with conven-' tional ceiling fixtures of the type described which improves the light distribution qualities of the .fixture, which is secured by the same means which secures the fixture itself thereby eliminating any hazardous means of suspension and vwhich requires no skill in the application thereof to a fixture.

the ceiling by a nipple and a removable finial:

an auxiliary shade surrounding said bulbs, lugs mounted on the shade, an auxiliary disk received by the nipple and held in place against the celling plate by the removable finial; said disk provided with slots in the marginal edge thereof, and a plurality of shade suspension means attached at one end thereof to the lugs and their other ends being received in the marginal slots of the d isk, whereby a conventional ceiling fixture with exposedlamps is converted into a semi-indirect lighting fixture and the weight of the auxiliary elements is carried by the nipple and finial.

JOSEPH TERR. 

